Apparatus for securing funds of banks against robbery



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. P. KING. APPARATUS FOR SECURING FUNDS 0F BANKS AGAINST ROBBERY. No.584,309.

Patented June 8, 1897.

ilillll! 05 Jail/ow (No Model.) I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. F. KING.

APPARATUS FOR SECURING FUNDS 0F BANKS AGAINST ROBBERY.

No. 584,309. Patented June 8,, 1897.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

' P. P. KING. APPARATUS FOR SECURING FUNDS 0F BANKS AGAINST ROBBERY. No.584,309.

Patented June 8,1897.

lJNiTEn STATES- PATENT @FFICE.

PHINEAS F. KING, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNEASSIGNMENTS, OF TlVO-THIRDS TO HENRY L. GIFFORD, OF SAME PLACE, ANDWILLIAM S. ROGERS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

APPARATUS FOR SECURING FUNDS OF BANKS AGAINST ROBBERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 584,309, dated June 8,1897. Application filed December 3]., 1896. Serial No. 617,562. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHINEAS F. KING, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Apparatns for Securing the Funds ofBanks and Business-Houses Against Robbery in the Daytime, of which thefollowing is a specification.

In banking-houses and in other places of business it is customary andnecessary to handle and expose to a more or less extent large sums ofmoney during the transaction of business in the daytime. The deposit oflarge sums of moneyin exposed and readily accessible positions has givenoccasion to successful raids and attacks of robbers, who, obtainingaccess to these places of business in the ordinary course of business,intimidate,- kill, or injure the employees or officers and seize andmake off with sums of money thus exposed.

The object of my invention is to avoid these raids and attacks and toprovide a safe and secure means for holding the funds of the day of sucha business-house during business hours.

To this end my invention consists in a rotatable cash-receptaclepositioned so as to be readilyaccessible,in service mechanism whichnormallycauses the receptacle to assume and remain in a closed andlocked position when not in use, and emergency mechanism which isadapted to be actuated to permanently lock the receptacle closed, sothat it cannot be opened under any circumstances by any person withinthe building and which in any event requires time and knowledge toremove the permanent lock.

My invention has certain other objects in view; and it consists incertain further features about to be described, and pointed out in myclaims, reference being now had to the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure l is a perspective view of the interior of abanking-house,showingmy improved apparatus in position, the cash-receptacle being open. Fig.2 is a side elevation of the mechanism for service and emergency lookingand for closing the cash-receptacle, the Fig. 3 is a pedestal-casingbeing in section.

cash-receptacle shaft.

front elevation of the same. Fig. at is a plan view of the apparatus,partly broken away, with the containing-box in section to show thecash-receptacle nested therein, the dotted lines showing the extendedopen posit-ion of the said receptacle. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on thelineocwof Fig. 2. Fig.6 is a like view on the line 3 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7is a View showing a ball-bearing arrangement for the Fig. 8 is a detailView of a modified form, showing the application of electricity as ameans of initiating the opera tion of the emergency-lock.

In the constant manipulation of large sums of money in businesshouses ithas hitherto been impossible to keep the funds with any sort of securityduring the ordinary transaction of business in the daytime.

If the money is distributed about in exposed and insecure positions uponthe-desks or tables of the interior, it maybe readily seized by thieveswho intimidate or kill the employees. If the funds are deposited in adrawer or other receptacle within the control of any one or more of theemployees, the funds may be secured by intimidation of the employee incharge.

In carrying out my invention it is my de sign to provide a receptaclefor the funds controlled by service mechanism which causes thecash-receptacle to normally tend to close and be locked when notabsolutely in use, this service mechanism including the means wherebythe apparatus is employed in the ordinary routine of the usual dailybusiness. That is, the cashreceptacle is rotatably mounted and adaptedto be swung from its normally-maintained closed and locked position intoits open position by means of service mechanism controlled and operatedby the person in charge of the cash, which cash-receptacle normallytends to rotate into a closed and locked position when the servicemechanism is released by the operator. I also provide emergency lockingmechanism which may be instantly applied bythe employee upon anyintimation of danger or which may be applied by any person at variousdifferent points, which locking mechanism applies a permanent lock tothe cash-receptacle in a closed position, which cannot be removed exceptby procuring a key kept at a place distant from the business-house andwhich requires skill and experience to effect an unlocking, thisemergency locking mechanism including the means whereby the apparatusis. operated under circumstances out of the ordinary daily routine ofbusiness and when danger is imminent or present.

Referring to the drawings, the cash-receptacle support is designated at15, having mounted thereon the semicircular cash-receptacle 16, which isfitted with suitable divisional spaces to receive coin and currency.This cash-receptacle 16 is mounted upon the shaft 17, which latterrotates upon the ballbearings 18, Fig. 7. The cash-receptacle is alsoadapted to maintain a closed position within the sheathing-box 19, asshown in Figs. 2 and 3.

I provide a service locking mechanism, which is designated generally atA, and the emergency locking mechanism 13, and will proceed now with adescription first of the service locking mechanism and the means ofoperating the same and of operating the cashreceptacle 16. 7

A hand-lever 20 is pivotally mounted at 21, which when thecash-receptacle is closed is in a depressed position, Fig. 2.

The push-arm 22 of the lever 20 is adapted to rest against thepresser-rod 23, and when the lever 20 is raised manually this roddepresses the lock-arm 24 of thelocking-pawl 25, which latter engagesover the upper end i of the rack-bar 26. The lower end of thecash-receptacle shaft 17 carries a bevel gearwheel 27, which meshes withthe bevel gearwheel 28 on the counter-shaft 29, the gearwheel 28 alsohaving a toothed periphery 30, meshing with the teeth 31 of the rack-bar26. This rack-bar 26 is reciprocated by means of the service foot-lever32, extended to the outside of the pedestal-support 15. V

It will be observed that the rack-bar 26 is withheld from movement'bythe locking-pawl 25, engaged over it, and as the said rack-bar 26 isgeared to the shaft 17 the cash-receptacle is locked in its closedposition, the pawl being thus heldengaged by the spring 33 on thepresser-rod 23, and this spring 33 normally causing the pawl to tend toengage the rackbar.

In order to open the cash-receptacle 16, it is necessary first to removethe service-lock A by raising manually the lever 20, which effects arelease of the locking-pawl 25 from the rack-bar 26, the push-arm 22engaging and holding the presser-rod 23 depressed, as shown by thedotted lines in Fig. 2, thus holding the parts in an unlocked position.The operator then placesthe foot upon the lever 32' and pushes up,reciprocatively, the rackbar 26, which rotates the shaft 17 and also thecash-receptacle 16, mounted thereon ,causing said receptacle to swingout into an open position, as shown in Fig. 1. As this cashreceptaclethus swings outwardly it engages against the end of the lever 20 in theplane of its traverse and dislodges the push-arm 22 from the presserrod23, which permits the spring 33 to raise said rod and to engage thelocking-pawl 25 over the rack-bar 26 when the latter arrives at itslowermost position and the service foot-lever 32 is released.

It will be observed that as the cash-receptacle shaft 17 is sensitivelymounted upon ball-bearings, the cash-receptacle swings easily, and thusit normally tends to close by virtue of the downward tendency ofmovement of the rack bar 26, which may be weighted, as shown at 35, andwhich when released by the lever 32 in moving downward rotates the shaft17 in a direction opposite to that when the cash-receptacle is caused toassume an open position.

It is evident from the foregoing that the cash-receptacle tends to closeand lock itself closed and that the operator must first manipulate thelever 20 and the foot-lever 32 before the cash-receptacle can be opened.Thus a receptacle for the cash is provided of a character insuringtemporary safety, as it is constantly closed and locked except whenactually in use, which receptacle may quickly and readily be unlockedand caused to assume an open position. By virtue of the provision of theunlocking hand-lever 20 and the footlever 32 it is apparent that thecash-receptacle cannot be inadvertently opened, as it requires twodistinct movements.

Having thus described the service mechanism for locking and unlockingthe cash-receptacle and swinging it into and out of use during the usualroutine operations of the daily business, I will now describe theemergency looking mechanism, which accomplishes certain results whendanger from robbery is imminent or threatened. (designated at 13,) asstated, consists of a locking-pawl 36, pivoted at 37 and connected withThis emer enc Y mechanism a lock-arm 38, the end of which bears looselyagainst .the end of a trip-lever 39, of hellcrank form, pivoted at 40. Aspring 41 bears against the lock-arm 38 and normally tends to force thepawl 36 into engagement over the end of the rack-bar 26, but is withheldby the engagement with the trip-lever 39 in a normal condition ofthings. A pull-rod 43 is connected to the free outer end ofv the triplever 39, which rod is secured at its lower end to an emergencyfoot-lever 44. An alarm mechanism is designated at 45, normally withheldfrom action by the pawl 46, engaging the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 47,which pawl is withdrawn by the movement of the trip-lever 36. Access tothe interior of the pedestal-support 15 is had only through thescrew-door 48, which is always kept securely locked and the key kept insome place remote from the place of business in which thecash-receptacle is located.

It is evident, if the apparatus is not in use, that the cash-receptacleis in a closed position and locked by the service locking mechanism.Upon the slightest intimation or apprehension of danger from a hold-upor robbery the person in charge of the cash has only to depress theemergency foot-lever and thus pull down upon the pull-rod 43 and dislodge the lower end of the trip-lever 39 from engagement with thelock-arm 38, permitting the spring 40 to force the locking-paw] 36 intoengagement with the end of the rackbar 26. When this is accomplished,the cashreceptacle is locked permanentlyby the emergency lockingmechanism, and this look cannot be removed except by obtaining anentrance to the interior of the pedestal-support 15. It is manifest thatunder such conditions intimidation of the employees in charge isfruitless, as the key for unlocking the screw-door 48 to obtain accessand manually remove the permanent lock is not in the possession of anyone within the business-house.

As daylight robberies can only be effected with celerity and in theshortest possible time, it is evident that the thieves have not therequisite time to force an entrance to the pedestal-support 15 andmanually remove the lock. Further, when the trip-lever 39 moves, thepawl 46 is withdrawn from engagement with the alarm mechanism 45 and thegong 49 gives notice of the attempted robbery.

If the cash-receptacle is open, the person in charge simply removes hisfoot from the service foot-lever 32, the cash-receptacle instantlyswings closed, and the emergency locking mechanism is applied by theemergency foot-lever 4.4.

In the construction and arrangement just described it is evident thatthe cash-receptacle is maintained in an extended and open position onlywhen the foot is upon the service foot-lever 32, but of course I do notdesire to be understood in each instance as having confined myself tosuch manner of operation.

It will be apparent that the emergency locking mechanism is applied by asimple and instantaneous movement of the foot which does not interferewith the throwing up of the hands in compliance with the usual commandof the thieves.

It will be understood that the cash-recepiacle operates through anopening in one half of the front of the sheathing-box 19, the other halfof which is closed.

In Fig. 8 I have shown means, the opera tion of which is initiatedelectrically, for applying the emergency locking mechanism from any partof the business-house at points remote from the cash-receptacle. The inechanism for this purpose consists of a push-rod 50, the lower end ofwhich is positioned directly over the upper end of the trip-lever 39,said push-rod 50 being surrounded by a coiled spring 51, which tends toforce the push-rod 5O forcibly into contact against the said end of thetrip-rod 39. A pivoted latch 52 normally engages the notched upper endof the push-rod 50 and holds it elevated against the resistance of thespring 51. A pivoted armature 53, connected by intermediate rods 54 withthe latch 52, is operated by the electromagnets 55, the circuits ofwhich lead to several points remote from the cash-receptacle. Thus, forinstance, at some point remote from the cash-receptacle the emergencylockin g mechanism may be applied by some employee upon the slightestintimation of danger, and push-buttons may be distributed about theinterior of the business-house to close the electromagnet-circuit andoperate the emergency locking mechanism and sound the alarm.

\Vhen the improved apparatus is adopted, then daylight robberies will beprevented, as thieves will be deterred from attempting the impossible.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An apparatus for securing the funds of the day of a bank orbusiness-house against robbery consisting of a rotatably-mountedcash-receptacle, a sheathing therefor within which the cash-receptaclenormally tends to remain when not in use, service lockin g mechanism forlocking the said cash-receptacle in such closed position, servicemechanism for removing such service-lock and for swinging thecash-receptacle into an open position, an em ergency-lock normallywithheld from looking engagement but adapted to engage and lock thecash-receptacle in a closed position and emergency mechanism forinitiating the operation of the emergency-lock whereby a permanentlocking is effected.

2. An apparatus for securing the funds of the day of a bank orbusiness-house against robbery consisting of a rotatably-mountedcash-receptacle, a sheathing-boX therefor, means which cause thecash-receptacle to tend to remain, when not in use, within thecontainer, a supporting-pedestal upon which the cash-receptacle ismounted, means for obtaining access to the supporting-pedestal locatedat a point remote from the bank or other business-house, service lockingmechanism for locking the said cash-receptacle in its closed position,service mechanism for removing such service-lock and for swinging thecash-receptacle into an open position, which service lock and mechanismis disposed within the interior of the pedestal, means for operating theservice mechanism from the eX- terior of the pedestal, an emergency-locknormally held from locking engagement but adapted to engage and lock thecash-receptacle in a closed position and emergency mechanism foroperating the emergency lock whereby a permanent lockin g is effected,said emergency lock and mechanism being disposed within thepedestal,togetherwith means for operating said emergencydock to lock thesame from the exterior of the said pedestal.

3. In an apparatus of the character described a rotatablecash-receptacle, a sheathin g-box within which the said receptacle nor-1 mally tends to remain when not .in use and means for locking andunlocking said cashreceptacleand causing it to swin ginto an openposition.

ole normally tends to remain when not in use, a supporting-pedestal uponwhich the cashreceptacle is mounted, means for obtainingaccess to thesupportingspedestal located at a I point remote from the bankor-otherbusinesshouse, means for applying permanent or term porarylocksinterchangeably for the cash-re-E ceptacle and mechanism foraccomplishing said application operated from the exterior of thepedestal.

5. In an apparatus of the character described a rotatablecash-receptacle, a sheathing-box within which the said receptaclenormally'tends to remain when not in use, a serv- Y ice-lock andmechanism for withdrawing said lock and causing the cash-receptacle toswing into an open position together with an emergency-lock, mechanismfor operating said lock to lock the cash-receptacle and an alarmoperated simultaneously with the application of the emergency-lock.

6. In an apparatus of the class described the combination ofairotata-bly-mounted cash- I receptacle, a sheathing-box within whichthe said receptacle remains when not in use,

means for causing the said receptacle to assu me a closed position, apedestal upon which the receptacle is mounted means for obtainin gaccess to said pedestal locatedat a point re- 1 mote from the bank orother business-house, a service-lock which normally locks thecashreceptacle in its closed position, manually-- operated means forwithdrawingsaid servicelock and releasing the cash-receptacle, servicemechanism pedally operated ,to swing the cash receptacle into an openposition and an emergency-lock together with emergency locking mechanismpedally operated from the exterior of the casing to apply a permanent;lockto thecaslrreceptacle in a closed position.

.7 In an apparatus of the class described the combination-of arotatably-mounted cashreceptacle, a sheathing-box within which the .saidreceptacle remains when not in use,

means for causing the said receptacle to assume a closed position, apedestal upon which the receptacle is mounted, means for obtainingaccess to said pedestal located at .aipointv lock and releasing thecash-receptacle, the

operating-lever of which is extended into the path of thecash-receptacle whereby the service-lock is applied by thecash-receptacle when it swings outwardly, service mechanism 1 pedallyoperated to swing the cash-receptacle into an open position and anemergency-lock together with emergency locking mechanism pedallyoperated from the exterior of the casing to apply a permanent lock tothe cash-receptacle in a closed position.

8. In an apparatus of the character described the combination witha-rotatable cashreceptacle of a sheathing-box for said receptacle, apedestal upon which the said cash-receptacle is mounted, a service-lockfor holding the cash-receptacle in a closed position consisting of apivoted lever and springpressed locking-pawl, a lever operating arack-bar together with intermediate gearing mechanism operated by therack-bar to swing the cash-receptacle into an open position, whereby theservice-lock is removed by the I first-mentioned lever'jthe arm of whichextends into the path of the swinging cash-receptacle and is engagedthereby to automatically apply the service-lock.

,9. In an apparatus of the character described thecombin ation with arotatable cashreceptacle of a sheathing box therefor, a pedestal uponwhich the cash-receptacle is mounted, means for obtainingaccess to saidpedestal located at a point remote from the bank or the business-house,an emergencylock which holds, when applied, the cash-receptacle in aclosed position, which look is normally disengaged when the apparatus isin service use and means for applying said emergency-lock from theexterior of thepedestal upon intimation of danger.

10. In an apparatus of the character described the combination with arotatablecashreceptacle of a sheathing-box therefor, a pedestal uponwhich the cash-receptacle is mounted, means for obtainingaccess' tosaidpedestal located at a point remote from the bank or b usiness-house,and emergency-lock which holds, when applied, the cash-receptacle in aclosed position, which look is normally disengaged when the apparatus isin service use and means for applying said emergency-lock from theexterior of the pedestal together with an alarm simultaneously operatedwith theapplication of the emergency-lock.

11. In an apparatus of the character described the combination with arotatable cashreceptacle and shaft therefor of a sheathingbox for saidreceptacle, a pedestal upon which the receptacle is mounted, a servicelock therefor, service mechanism for swinging the cash -receptacle intoan open position consistin g of a toot-lever operated from the exteriorof the pedestal, a rack-bar moved upwardly by said foot-lever, gearingbetween the rack-bar and the shaft of thecash-recep- ,tacle, theservice-lock consisting of a pawl emergency foot-lever operated from theeX- terior of the pedestal which is connected with the switch-lever,said lockin g mechanism and lock being disposed within the pedestal.

12. In an apparatus of the character described the combination with therotatable cash-receptacle of an emergency-lock therefor and means forswinging the cash-receptacle into an open position, said emergencylockand mechanism for operating the same consisting of an engaging pawl, atrip-lever withholding said pawl from engagement and a foot-leveroperated from the exterior of the pedestal upon which thecash-receptacle is mounted.

13. In an apparatus of the character described the combination with therotatable cash-receptacle of an emergency-lock therefor and means forswinging the cash-receptacle into an open position, said emergency lockand mechanism for operating the same consisting of an engaging pawl, atrip-lever withholding said pawl from engagement, a foot-lever operatedfrom the exterior of the pedestal upon which the cash-receptacle ismounted and means for obtaining access to said pedestal located at apoint remote from the banking-house or other place of business togetherwith an alarm mechanism operated by the trip-lever simultaneously withthe engagement of the emergency-lock.

14. In an apparatus of the character described the combination with arotatable cashreceptacle and sheathing-box therefor of a pedestal uponwhich the cash-receptacle is mounted, an em ergency-lock for saidcash-receptacle disposed within the pedestal, means for obtaining accessto said pedestal located at a point remote from the house or other placeof business, mechanism for applying the emergency-lock also disposedwithin the pedestal and an electro magnet or magnets adapted, whenenergized, to initiate the operation of the locking mechanism wherebythe emergency-lock is applied together with an electric circuit orcircuits, including a source of currentsupply, leading to a point orpoints in the banking-house or other place of business, relativelyremote from the cashreceptacle.

15. In an apparatus of the character described the combination with arotatable cashreeeptacle and sheathing-box therefor of a pedestal uponwhich the cash-receptacle is mounted, an emergency-lock for saidcash-receptacle disposed within the means for obtaining access to saidpedestal located at a point remote from the bankinghouse or other placeof business, mechanism for applyingthe emergency-lock also disposedwithin the pedestal and an electro magnet or magnets adapted, whenenergized, to initiate the operation of the locking mechanism wherebythe emergency-lock is applied together with an electric circuit orcircuits, including a source of current-supply, leading to a point orpoints in the banking-house or other place of business, relativelyremote from the cash-receptacle and an alarm operated to soundsimultaneously with the engagement of the emergeney-1ock. Y

16. In combination the sheathing-box, the rotatable cash-receptacle withmeans for rotating it, the emergency-lock comprising the locking-pawltending normally to hold the cash-receptacle against movement, thetriplever for holding said locking-pawl out of locking position andadapted to be operated to release the same, an armature adapted to movesaid trip-lever, a magnet for attracting said armature, and a circuit orcircuits from said magnet to points in the banking-house or other placeof business relatively remote from the'cash-box, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PHINEAS F. KING.

Witnesses:

OHAs. O. BULKLEY, L. M. BULK EY,

